Bicycle



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(N0 Mode l.)

W. A. FLEMING.

' BICYCLE.

No. 471,472. PatentedMaJr. 22, 1892.

(No Model.) 2 Shets-Sheet 2.-

W. A. FLEMING.

BIGYGLB.

N0.-471,47Z. Patented Mar. 22 1892.

WITNESSES.-

INVENTOB rue NORRXS PETERS co., moroumu, vusumamn, a. c.

ATENT ()FFICE.

IVILL A FLEMING, OF LEIVISTON, IDAHO.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,472, dated March22, 1892.

Application filed June 26, 1891.

Serial No. 397,633. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, -WILL A. FLEMING, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at'Lewiston, in the county of Nez Forces, in the State ofIdaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inbicycles; and it has for its objects, among others, to provide animproved machine which can be operated with the utmost ease andsmoothness, adapted for use by either ladies or gentlemen, and whichshall be strong and durable and cheap of manufacture.

It has for a further object to so construct the frame thereof thatwheels of greater diameter than heretofore may be employed, and also toprovide for changing the gearing, so as to secure power or speed at thewill of the rider without dismounting, or to permit the machine to beused for coasting without removing the feet from the foot-pedals. Iprovide two drive-chains, either of which may be thrown into action atthe will of the operator. I brace the frame in such a manner as enablesme to provide a strong light frame and provide for the easy mounting ofthe same by a lady. The clutch mechanism may be operated from thesaddle. The front fork has apivoted portion,with provisions for makingthe same a practically rigid fork when desired. A spring is employed toconnect this fork to the frame-work that holds the mud-guard.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by theappended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form apart of thisspecification, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a bicycleembodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line xat of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail of the lower end of the front fork andits sliding ring. Fig. 4 is a View of the same parts with the ring in adifferent position. Fig. 5 is a View of the same parts,

looking at right angles to Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 6 is an end View of thecollar detached. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the saddle and its post.Fig. 8 shows the manner of applying the brake and the lever for applyingthe same. Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews in which they occur.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates themain frame of the machine, the forward end of which is bent upward oy'erthe front wheel B and to which at the point A are secured the frontdiagonal braces A, said frame havingahorizontal portion and beingbifurcated, as shown, so as to embrace the rear wheel 0 at each sidethereof. The forward end of the frame is provided with a bifurcatedstandard D, which embraces the front wheel B, and is provided at itsupper end with the usual cross-bar and handles E, whereby the bicycle isguided. The shafts of the respective wheels have their journal-hearingsrespectively at the ends of the bifurcated standard and the rear portionof the bifurcated frame A. The bifurcated standard is provided with ahinged joint j.

J is the easy-arm, and J the spring that is secured at one end to theupper end of the easy-arm and is so arranged that it takes up and breaksthe jar when the wheel comes in contact with rough surfaces orobstructions, thereby making it much easier on both the bicycle and therider.

L is a safety-sleeve so arranged that it can be dropped down to engagethe upper end of the easy-arm, as shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 3 it is shownas raised, so as to disengage the said upper end of the easy-arm. Thissleeve is provided with any suitable means for holding it in itsadjusted positions. Such means may consist of a thumb-screw a. WVhenthis sleeve or collar is in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 41have a stiff standard; but when it is in the position in which it isshown in Fig. 3 the arm is permitted to rest upon the spring, so that ifby accident the spring should break the machine will still be in goodriding condition. The easy-arm J works between the sides and against thefront of the main standard, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby preventing thejoint working loose by lateral movement caused by turning the machine.The spring J is fastened on a bifurcated frame J which is secured to thestandard. This frame is attached at its lower end to the bracej, whichprevents it from swinging or rattling. The upper end of the arm J worksbetween the bifurcated frame J which is provided with means foradjustment at the bottom, so that the said spring can be set to suit theoperator or rider. The spring is provided with a cap a to cover theupper end of the spring, the cap being provided with openings, as seenin Fig. 5, to fit over the frame J the center of the cap being providedwith a cone'shaped bearing to e11- gage the back and top part of theeasy arm J in a recess provided for the same, so that the bearing on thesaid spring will be even and will cause the spring to work easily andsmoothly. The main frame is depressed below the point A so as to bringthe major portion of the weight below a direct alignment of thebearings, thus making it much easier to mount and dismount and fittingthe machine for use by ladies. The diagonal braces A are secured to themain frame at the point A above the depressed part of the frame, therebygreatly strengthening the frame at the said depressed point and making amuch stronger and lighter frame, as the strain on the diagonal braces atthe point A is in direct alignment with the front portion. The lowerends of the braces are secured to the lower end of the frame in such amanner that they form a guard for the sprocketwheels, as seen clearly inFig. 1.

F designates a bifurcated standard secured to the main frame between theforward and rear wheels, and upon the upper end of which is mounted theseat G and to the lower ends of which are secured the rear ends of thefront diagonal braces A, as seen in Fig. 1, the front ends of the reardiagonal braces A thus forming a double-truss brace, which serves tohold the ends of the standards against accidental displacement hothlongitudinally and "transversely and also holding the standard and seatfirmlyin position vertically. Between the lower ends of said standard F,in suitable bearings II in the said lower end, is journaled apedal-shaft K, secured by collars F F*, fastened, respectively, byset-screws L and F by means of which the said shaft is held in position,the shaft being provided at its outer ends with the usual pedal-leversM, upon which are carried the pedals, which may be of any of thewell-known or approved forms of construction. Upon this shaft areloosely mounted two sprocket driving-wheels N and P, which are capableof turning independently of the shaft, the hubs of the saidsprocket-wheels at their adjacent inner faces be ing provided withclutch recesses and teeth R, with similar recesses and teeth S on thetransversely-movable collarl, mounted on the pedal-shaft and adapted tobe engaged with the said sprocket-wheels, the said collar bein g splinedto the shaft, so that while it may be shifted thereon it will be rotatedtherewith.

U designates a lever fulcrumed at V to the vertical standard F, whichsupports the seat, the upper end of the lever being provided with asuitable handle and ratchet V and so arranged that it holds the lever inthe posttion desired by the rider and is within easy reach of the rider,while the lower end is bent backward and is connected with the collarW,which collar is adjustable in a circumferential recess in the collar 1,by means of which the said collar may be moved to cause it to engagewith either of the sprocket-wheels N or P, as may be desired, ordisengaged e11- tirely for coasting. Upon the axle of the rear wheel arerigidly mounted two sprocketpulleys X and X, which are connected withthe sprocket-wheels N and P by means of the sprocket-chains Y and Y, asshown in Fig. 1.. The rear ends of the bifurcated frame A are soarranged that the bearings can be adj ustcd to take up the slack of thechains caused by wear. This is done by means of the screw The braces Aand A are so arranged that the seat can be slanted back, if desired. Thetop of the standard is so arranged that the handle can be adjusted toany position desired. The sprocket-wheel N is provided with a lateralannular rim or flange B on which to apply a brake strap or band E thebrake-band being attached to the brake-lever, which is pivoted to an arm1), extending from the cross-bar B The brake-lever is connected byintermediate connecting-rods b b and crank-levers b b pivoted on theframe, as shown in Fig. 1. The teeth and recesses of the sprocket-wheelsand collar are so constructed that they may be caused to engage ordisengage while the machine is in rapid motion if the rider so desires,and are so constructed that the rider can control the machine byhis feetin place of the brake should he so desire. The construction andoperation of these parts will be best understood from Fig. 2.

The operation will be readily understood, and is as follows: Then thecollar I is in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2, the machineis in condition for coasting, as neither of the sprocket-wheels N or Pare engaged. \Vhen the rider wishes to speed, he shifts the collar bymeans of the lever U to the right and engages the wheel N, which willthen rotate with the shaft, and its motion will be transmitted by meansof the sprocket-chain Y to the rear axle and wheel. The wheel I in themeantime will run idly on its bearings. lVhen it is desired to applymore power, as in climbing heavy grades, the clutch-collar I is shiftedto the left to disengage the sprocket-wheel N and engage the wheel P,inwhich case the wheel N runs idly on its bearings, and the wheel Pthrough its chain Y oommunicates motion to the rear axle and wheel. Itwill thus be seen that by the construction above described I provide amachine which can be readily and quickly changed for either speed,power, or coasting without the rider removing his feet from the pedals,and that by the peculiar construction of the frame a much larger wheelthan heretofore can be employed; also, by the peculiar construction ofthe main frame with its depression and its braces a lighter frame willsustain a heavier load than others of the same weight, and the peculiarconstruction and arrangement of the easy-arm and its spring with thefront fork makes it much easier both on the machine and the rider, andin case of accident the inachine can be readily repaired by means of thesleeve, which makes it a rigid fork instead of f a yielding one.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What I claim as new is- 1. In a bicycle, the combination, with thestandard D, the easy-arm, and the mud-guard brace, of a spring betweensaid easy-arm and brace, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a bicycle, the combination, with the front standard, the easy-armpivoted thereto, and the mud-guard brace, of a spring between said armand brace, a frame to support said spring, and a cap interposed betweenthe easy-arm and spring and guided and retain ed by said frame,substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILL A. FLEMING.

Witnesses:

S. S. ROGERS, J. M. HOWE.

